Word of mouth is still king

[@Li3n]

http://www.gamasutra.com/view/news/...outh_Biggest_Influencer_In_Game_Purchases.php

Word of mouth is the biggest influencer for consumers wondering what video game to buy, says a new survey released by PR firm Waggener Edstrom.

The opinion of friends is three times as likely to influence game purchases as traditional forms of advertising and promotion, the survey of 507 gamers said. Further, friends are twice as likely as family members to influence purchasers.

The study also identifies a segment of the audience it calls \"Influence Multipliers\" -- 21 percent of gamers who have an \"inordinate impact\" on the purchasing decisions of others. These \"Influence Multipliers\" are longtime gamers, heavily-networked community members, and go-to people on purchase decisions.

\"Compared to all video gamers, Influence Multipliers are a hyperinfluential subset of friends who are also far more connected to other gamers,\" explains Waggener Edstrom analytics senior VP Dan Gallagher. \"As a result, Influence Multipliers have an outsized network influence effect on their gaming colleagues.\"

Retail, online demos, reviews and advertising and promotion follow word of mouth as the most important factors influencing game-buying, in that order.

This backs another, similar study by Cowen Group that found word of mouth triumphed over game reviews and promotional initiatives in terms of influence.

But i wonder if this applies to the more casual console crowd that doesn;t use the net as much etc.

 

[bhamv3]

Hmm, now we'll have planted people going around spouting stuff like, "This game is the best game ever! You can take my word for it, I have an inordinate impact on other people's game purchases!"

 

[Seraphyn]

But i wonder if this applies to the more casual console crowd that doesn;t use the net as much etc.

I think it applies to the entire gaming populace. I'm somewhat of a casual gamer, as in I don't spend much time on it on average. My housemate is a hardcore gamer, but if I tell him a game is utter shite, he won't touch it. Same way the other way around.

I would think this survey just gave everyone working on it a big 'Duh' as result. I'd always pick a friends advice over advertising, seeing as my friend isn't horribly biased to sell me on anything.

 

[@Li3n]

I was talking about the sort of people that don't actually go on internet fori etc.

Teh idea being that if the survey was done on the internet or by some other hi-tech means those people would not be represented by the survey group.

Look at Dead Space, little advertising meant it took a while to get to 1 million sold (as good word of mouth got around), while games like MW2 (not a good examples, as is a sequel, but it's still relatively morning for me, i'll think of a better one later) are advertised everywhere and sell millions in the first day.

Hmm, now we'll have planted people going around spouting stuff like, "This game is the best game ever! You can take my word for it, I have an inordinate impact on other people's game purchases!"

Wasn't there a big brouhaha a few years back about that already?

 

[RealBigNuke]

Hmm, now we'll have planted people going around spouting stuff like, "This game is the best game ever! You can take my word for it, I have an inordinate impact on other people's game purchases!"

Companies have been paying shills to do this for decades across all forms of media. They've been doing it on forums for years. Penny Arcade had a few news posts on that a while ago.

 

[Chibibar]

Well, I know if I really like a game (I don't get paid... man you can get paid???) I would talk to other people who have similar interest. Even at game store when someone is looking at a game.

 

[@Li3n]

Well, I know if I really like a game (I don't get paid... man you can get paid???) I would talk to other people who have similar interest. Even at game store when someone is looking at a game.

Shill...

 

[Chibibar]

Well, I know if I really like a game (I don't get paid... man you can get paid???) I would talk to other people who have similar interest. Even at game store when someone is looking at a game.

Shill...[/QUOTE]

only if I get paid...... man... can you imagine how much commission I could have made?

 

[@Li3n]

Well that's EA for you... try Ubisoft next time.
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[Hylian]

Sadly none of my friends (well non internet friends) play games except my brother and even than he isn't a huge gamer. But luckily as I mentioned earlier I at least have all your opinions which I take with more consideration than most reviews I read.

 

[@Li3n]

Sadly none of my friends (well non internet friends) play games except my brother and even than he isn't a huge gamer. But luckily as I mentioned earlier I at least have all your opinions which I take with more consideration than most reviews I read.

You hear that evil publishers... time to pony up some money so you cna sell some crappy games.